Virtual drive application boosts laptop security

A new secure virtual drive application uses the PadLock Security Engine in C7 and C7-M processors to enable real-time encryption of data on local storage devices using military-grade algorithms.

VIA StrongBox is a new secure virtual drive application that uses the VIA PadLock Security Engine in VIA C7 and VIA C7-M processors to enable real-time encryption of data on local storage devices using military-grade security algorithms.

The security of VIA StrongBox will be put to the test with a US $5000 prize on offer during the annual Open Hack competition at this year's Hack in the Box security conference being held in Malaysia this week.

Viruses, worms, hacking and identity theft have become an everyday part of computing, with the result that the security of our personal and confidential business information is emerging as the single biggest issue in computing today.

Notebook PCs are especially vulnerable, with their easy portability creating a much higher risk of theft and loss - reports show that a staggering 10% of notebooks are stolen annually.

VIA StrongBox empowers users to safely store as much as 40Gbyte of their personal documents, photos and files in up to ten virtual "strongbox" drives, with a stylish, intuitive interface for easy configuration and management.

Information can be saved and retrieved on unlocked StrongBox drives just like any other storage device, but when locked or when the computer is shut down, VIA StrongBox encrypts all the contents in real time, rendering them 100% unreadable and inaccessible to unauthorised users.

Using a combination of the military-grade secure hash algorithm SHA-1 and the unbreakable AES 256bit algorithm to secure drive contents, VIA StrongBox employs the powerful hardware security features of the VIA PadLock Security Engine built into every VIA C7-M processor to provide lightning-fast encryption with no impact on system performance.

"VIA StrongBox is an excellent example of the proactive approach VIA is taking to enable pervasive mobile security by taking full advantage of the unbeatable strength and speed of the VIA PadLock Security Engine", commented Richard Brown, Vice President of Corporate Marketing, VIA Technologies.

"As notebooks are increasingly favoured over desktops, applications like VIA StrongBox combined with the VIA C7-M processor are enabling a new breed of ultra secure functionality that is of paramount importance for mobile device users".

To help highlight and raise awareness of the issues facing mobile security, VIA has sponsored this year's annual Open Hack competition taking place during the Hack in the Box Security Conference in Kuala Lumpur.

The competition challenged event participants to test their hacking skills in a real life scenario, using a VIA C7-M processor-based notebook with VIA StrongBox installed as the target.

If hacked, the winner will collect the VIA-sponsored prize worth US $5000.

The winner is the first participant to successfully thwart the protection offered by VIA StrongBox, and to access and read a document stored inside.

VIA StrongBox runs on all VIA C7 and VIA C7-M processors, as well as VIA C3 and VIA Eden processors based on the Nehemiah C5P core, and enables up to 10 virtual drives to be created on a system hard drive, each with a potential maximum size of 4Gbyte.

Users assign each virtual StrongBox drive a physical size limit, a drive letter, a unique password and password hint, and may create their own password hint reminder question for enhanced password safety.

Accessed by either the VIA StrongBox control centre or the standard Microsoft Windows file manager, the application gives users the option to lock and unlock a drive, manage their drives, and configure them to automatically lock up on the activation of a screen saver, or to enact a timed lock-out following multiple incorrect password entries.

Available for free download from the VIA product and technical information portal VIA Arena, the VIA StrongBox software joins an existing suite of VIA PadLock-enabled applications released by VIA and its partners, as the latest demonstration of the effectiveness of the VIA PadLock Security Engine.

With the VIA PadLock Security Initiative, VIA is laying down a strong foundation for security by providing a comprehensive set of powerful building blocks to create the building of dynamic digital fortresses to protect valuable information from existing and emerging cyber threats.

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